Voters take distortions in stride

The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, founded with the goal of giving every child the education necessary to succeed in the changing marketplace, was the powerbroker behind the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993.

The organization spearheaded an unprecedented groundswell of collaboration between Massachusetts educators and policymakers.

Former Gov. Bill Weld eventually signed off on the legislation, once a charter school provision was added.

But although the law predates Mitt Romney’s tenure as governor of Massachusetts by almost a decade, listening to the Republican presidential candidate these days you would get the impression that he was the force behind its creation and its ultimate successes.

This type of political truism, the smudging of the facts to burnish one’s image, has been part of the political theater for decades.

But many believe that Mr. Romney has gone far beyond this.

Their concern is not that he is guilty of distorting the facts, but that he doesn’t seem to be committed to any facts at all.

Which brings us to the question of how a candidate with no apparent “core convictions,” a man who consistently changes his positions based on political expediency, can still be in a good position to win the presidency.

Alison Mangiero, an instructor in the political science department at the College of the Holy Cross, is not surprised Mr. Romney is being embraced as a viable presidential candidate, despite his perceived failings.

Mr. Romney’s flip-flops on social issues, and even his foreign policy positions, do not resonate as some people think they should because many in the electorate are consumed by their immediate economic condition, she said.

“And that is one area in which he has been consistent,” she said of Mr. Romney.

“He is consistent in talking about jobs, the economy, his five-point plan. To many, those are issues that still matter most.”

It is true that Mr. Romney doesn’t give many specifics about his economic agenda, and that critics say his economic proposals could increase deficit spending and raise taxes on the middle class.

But perhaps the lack of specifics doesn’t hold sway for many voters, who often don’t get that involved in the “nitty gritty” of how a candidate’s economic plan works, she said.

In addition, attempts to paint Mr. Romney’s flip-flopping as a character issue may not be gaining traction, because some voters might be making a difference between candidates who lie, or change their minds on political issues, and those who commit moral transgressions in their religious and personal lives.

Some voters are taking the latter to be more important than the former, she speculated.

Clark University professor Robert Boatright, who teaches courses on American political behavior, political parties, campaigns and elections, believes that given the historical model of political campaigns this one is exactly where it should be.

Presidential elections, he said, are never about the challenger but about the incumbent and the tightening of the race following the first presidential debatesuggests that Mr. Romney was able to blunt the Obama campaign’s characterization of him as an out-of-touch businessman, devoid of any substantive ideas.

“He (Mr. Romney) came across as a pleasant, competent guy at that point and people who were inclined to vote against the incumbent found him acceptable,” he said.

So just maybe the issue is not why Mr. Romney is doing so well, but why Mr. Obama is still in a good position to win re-election, and the answer could well be that the Republican candidate’s apparent lack of core convictions is indeed helping the president.

CDL A DELIVERY DRIVERS Home Every Night! Needed for our Worcester Depot! Drive local - No more spending valuable nights away from your family! As a Direct Store Delivery Representative YOU have the opportunity to make a difference with our customers! Provide excellent customer service; interact in a positive manner with our customers; deliver our products to local stores. Be home every night! Work for a Company that has been around for over 80 years! Minimum of 3 months driving experience with CDL A/B; GED or HS diploma required; Must be able to drive a standard transmission. EEO/Veteran/Disability Growing Strong Since1933!